FORT WORTH, Texas (Feb. 17, 2007) - A back-and-forth affair was decided in the eighth inning when No. 21 TCU scored five times with two outs to overcome what was once a 5-2 deficit to No. 27 Oral Roberts. The Horned Frogs exploded for 10 runs on 15 hits, highlighted by eighth-inning home runs from Bryan Kervin and Austin Adams. Derek VerHagen earned his first collegiate win in his mound debut.

A Carter McQuigg home run to lead off the eighth inning broke a 5-5 tie, giving Oral Roberts the 6-5 lead. VerHagen retired the final three batters in the inning, setting up the Horned Frog onslaught in the bottom of the frame.

Corey Steglich bounced a seeing-eye single through the right side with one out to start the rally. After a quick out, Kervin turned on a 0-1 offering from Eric Crichton and deposited it over the right center field fence to turn the one-run deficit into a one-run lead. Steven Trout followed with a double to left field and Andrew Walker worked a five-pitch walk setting up a mammoth blast off the bat of Adams, giving TCU a commanding 10-6 lead.

"I knew we were a good offensive team," said Head Coach Jim Schlossnagle. "We've been off-and-on this weekend, but we are facing a good pitching staff. Corey (Steglich) had a big hit and then (Bryan) Kervin turned on a pitch."

TCU took control early in the contest as they put up single runs in the first two innings off of Oral Roberts' starter, Marcus Tackett. Batting lead-off for the first time this season, Kervin doubled to start the first and moved to third on a Trout sacrifice bunt. Walker did his job, grounding out to the shortstop and driving in the run.

In the second, Clint Arnold singled with one out and stole two bags and scored on a Steglich base knock.

The Golden Eagles battled back to tie the game in the third with two runs as they took advantage of two walks in the inning. A three-run fifth inning gave the Eagles their first lead of the series. A Jake Kahaulelio double to left plated Kelly Minissale with the go-ahead run.

Back-to-back singles by Walker and Adams to open the sixth started the comeback. A one-out walk to Matt Carpenter loaded the bases and Arnold delivered a two-run double off the fence in left field. Another walk again loaded the bases and Ben Carruthers reached on an infield single to knot the game at five.

Tyler Lockwood was lights out in the sixth inning, retiring the side in order. He plunked Brendan Duffy to lead off the seventh, but got two key outs before giving way to VerHagen. With two on, VerHagen fanned pinch-hitter Tyler Warmerdam to end the threat.

Adams' blast proved to be the difference as the Golden Eagles hit two solo shots with two outs in the ninth, but VerHagen struck out pinch-hitter Andrew Wells to end the game.

With the win, the Frogs improve to 5-1 for the first time under Schlossnagle. The series will wrap up on Sunday with a 1 p.m. start at Lupton Stadium. Chris Johnson will be on the mound for TCU and face ORU's Michael Jarman.

Game Notes:
 The last time the Frogs opened the season 5-1 was back in 2003.
 Jim Schlossnagle is just two wins away from his 125th victory as head coach at TCU. In four seasons with the Frogs, he has a record of 123-70.
 The Frogs improve to 86-33 all-time at Lupton Stadium.
 They hold a 24-4-1 advantage all-time in series played at Lupton.
 Bryan Kervin's home run was his second career long ball at Lupton Stadium and for Austin Adams, it was his fifth career home run at Lupton.
 There were a combined five home runs in the final two innings of the ball game.